Hoot Owl
@thathootowl.bsky.social
Software developer. Climate nerd. Always looking to learn. She/her.
profile pic: ragdoll kitten looking up at the camera with a wide-eyed expression
banner: elderly dragon reading a book
profile pic: ragdoll kitten looking up at the camera with a wide-eyed expression
banner: elderly dragon reading a book
🚨Youth represented by @youthvgov.bsky.social and @midwestadvocates.bsky.social are suing Wisconsin for unconstitutional laws that accelerate the climate crisis and violate their rights to life and liberty! Join in supporting the brave youth in Dunn v. Wisconsin PSC bit.ly/wi-toolkit1 #YouthvWI
September 3, 2025 at 1:14 AM
🚨Youth represented by @youthvgov.bsky.social and @midwestadvocates.bsky.social are suing Wisconsin for unconstitutional laws that accelerate the climate crisis and violate their rights to life and liberty! Join in supporting the brave youth in Dunn v. Wisconsin PSC bit.ly/wi-toolkit1 #YouthvWI
Does anyone have info on methane leaks in Wisconsin? I have a whole lot of articles/data on a federal level but trying to find anything about Madison or even all of WI has been impossible. Was hoping I could do something locally given how widespread it is pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32519849/
A National Estimate of Methane Leakage from Pipeline Mains in Natural Gas Local Distribution Systems - PubMed
We estimate methane emissions from U.S. local distribution natural gas (NG) pipes using data collected from an advanced mobile leak detection (AMLD) platform. We estimate that there are 630,000 leaks ...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
April 16, 2025 at 1:12 AM
Does anyone have info on methane leaks in Wisconsin? I have a whole lot of articles/data on a federal level but trying to find anything about Madison or even all of WI has been impossible. Was hoping I could do something locally given how widespread it is pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32519849/
Reposted by Hoot Owl
“What is happening all around us is the creation of a technical infrastructure that is directly competing with humans for basic resources like water, energy and land.”
Including the interview with @katecrawford.bsky.social - and the terrific idea of AI as a “metabolic technology”
December 24, 2024 at 3:42 PM
“What is happening all around us is the creation of a technical infrastructure that is directly competing with humans for basic resources like water, energy and land.”
Reposted by Hoot Owl
Anyway, AI has already stolen friends’ work, and is going to put other people out of work.
I do not think a political party that claims to be the party of workers in this country should be using it. Even for just a silly joke.
I do not think a political party that claims to be the party of workers in this country should be using it. Even for just a silly joke.
December 22, 2024 at 10:44 PM
Anyway, AI has already stolen friends’ work, and is going to put other people out of work.
I do not think a political party that claims to be the party of workers in this country should be using it. Even for just a silly joke.
I do not think a political party that claims to be the party of workers in this country should be using it. Even for just a silly joke.
Reposted by Hoot Owl
Musk’s wealth in 2012: $2 Billion
Musk’s wealth in 2024: $447 Billion
Bezos’s wealth in 2012: $18 Billion
Bezos’s wealth in 2024: $249 Billion
Zuckerberg’s wealth in 2012: $44 Billion
Zuckerberg’s wealth in 2024: $224 Billion
Minimum wage in 2012: $7.25
Minimum wage in 2024: $7.25
Musk’s wealth in 2024: $447 Billion
Bezos’s wealth in 2012: $18 Billion
Bezos’s wealth in 2024: $249 Billion
Zuckerberg’s wealth in 2012: $44 Billion
Zuckerberg’s wealth in 2024: $224 Billion
Minimum wage in 2012: $7.25
Minimum wage in 2024: $7.25
December 19, 2024 at 11:19 PM
Musk’s wealth in 2012: $2 Billion
Musk’s wealth in 2024: $447 Billion
Bezos’s wealth in 2012: $18 Billion
Bezos’s wealth in 2024: $249 Billion
Zuckerberg’s wealth in 2012: $44 Billion
Zuckerberg’s wealth in 2024: $224 Billion
Minimum wage in 2012: $7.25
Minimum wage in 2024: $7.25
Musk’s wealth in 2024: $447 Billion
Bezos’s wealth in 2012: $18 Billion
Bezos’s wealth in 2024: $249 Billion
Zuckerberg’s wealth in 2012: $44 Billion
Zuckerberg’s wealth in 2024: $224 Billion
Minimum wage in 2012: $7.25
Minimum wage in 2024: $7.25
Reposted by Hoot Owl
Reposted by Hoot Owl
What can government scientists do now to minimize the damage that’s coming over the next four years, and what can we do to help them? I spoke to several experts to write this story for The Revelator
Please share widely. 🧪🌎
therevelator.org/scientists-m...
Please share widely. 🧪🌎
therevelator.org/scientists-m...
Advice for U.S. Government Scientists: Lessons Learned From the ‘Muzzling’ of Their Canadian Counterparts • The Revelator
The next four years will be awful for the science and conservation community. By learning from past experiences, we can minimize the damage.
therevelator.org
December 2, 2024 at 4:15 PM
What can government scientists do now to minimize the damage that’s coming over the next four years, and what can we do to help them? I spoke to several experts to write this story for The Revelator
Please share widely. 🧪🌎
therevelator.org/scientists-m...
Please share widely. 🧪🌎
therevelator.org/scientists-m...
Reposted by Hoot Owl
The eradication of disease through vaccination is likely the greatest achievement of mankind.
Please remember that when the barrage of bullshit begins.
Please remember that when the barrage of bullshit begins.
December 2, 2024 at 11:30 PM
The eradication of disease through vaccination is likely the greatest achievement of mankind.
Please remember that when the barrage of bullshit begins.
Please remember that when the barrage of bullshit begins.
Reposted by Hoot Owl
Now would be an excellent time to propose meaningful reforms around presidential pardons. The pardon power has serious flaws that go far beyond the optics of cronyism or favoritism. It’s time for real reform. Here’s why—and what we can do. 👇
December 3, 2024 at 12:03 AM
Now would be an excellent time to propose meaningful reforms around presidential pardons. The pardon power has serious flaws that go far beyond the optics of cronyism or favoritism. It’s time for real reform. Here’s why—and what we can do. 👇
Reposted by Hoot Owl
this is your annual reminder that ocean spray, the cranberry company, is a member-owned co-op that is obligated by their charter to buy their farmers' entire cranberry crop at higher than market prices! so buy your cranberries this week from ocean spray!
November 26, 2024 at 1:44 AM
this is your annual reminder that ocean spray, the cranberry company, is a member-owned co-op that is obligated by their charter to buy their farmers' entire cranberry crop at higher than market prices! so buy your cranberries this week from ocean spray!
Reposted by Hoot Owl
99% of the advice people give for using Bluesky amounts to “don’t willingly have a terrible experience”, and the messed up thing is that peoples experience online has gotten so bad they legitimately need to be reminded of that
November 28, 2024 at 2:21 PM
99% of the advice people give for using Bluesky amounts to “don’t willingly have a terrible experience”, and the messed up thing is that peoples experience online has gotten so bad they legitimately need to be reminded of that
A wonderful thread that delves into the factors that influence culture
When I was on a menswear forum, I remember discussing the question of why there are so many bespoke shoemakers in Tokyo. Some people said, "it's because Japanese people value craftsmanship. They are noble, not like wasteful Westerners." This sort of handwaving feels unsatisfying to me.
November 27, 2024 at 12:55 PM
A wonderful thread that delves into the factors that influence culture
Reposted by Hoot Owl
Follow up pro tip:
Tell your parents that having the feature enables uses more power and burns out the TV faster.
Tell your parents that having the feature enables uses more power and burns out the TV faster.
November 26, 2024 at 1:53 PM
Follow up pro tip:
Tell your parents that having the feature enables uses more power and burns out the TV faster.
Tell your parents that having the feature enables uses more power and burns out the TV faster.
Reposted by Hoot Owl
We need to have a heart to heart about advocacy and change. So many folks are focused on federal/national politics, meanwhile a lot of local/state advocacy opportunities are lost. Most folks know to "Think global, act local", but we rarely act! A thread for folks that want to get stuff done...
November 27, 2024 at 1:15 AM
We need to have a heart to heart about advocacy and change. So many folks are focused on federal/national politics, meanwhile a lot of local/state advocacy opportunities are lost. Most folks know to "Think global, act local", but we rarely act! A thread for folks that want to get stuff done...
Reposted by Hoot Owl
Every single time. UBI works *and* it saves money. But no, we can't do this because we hate poor people so much that we would rather waste money than alleviate any suffering.
Denver gave people experiencing homelessness $1k/month. A year later, nearly half had housing.
They also had fewer ER visits, nights spent in a hospital, and jail stays.
The report estimates that this reduction in public service use SAVED the city $589k.
www.businessinsider.com/denver-basic...
They also had fewer ER visits, nights spent in a hospital, and jail stays.
The report estimates that this reduction in public service use SAVED the city $589k.
www.businessinsider.com/denver-basic...
Denver gave people experiencing homelessness $1,000 a month. A year later, nearly half of participants said they had housing.
Participants in Denver's basic-income program reported having more-secure housing, though results were similar in the trial and control groups.
www.businessinsider.com
November 26, 2024 at 11:38 AM
Every single time. UBI works *and* it saves money. But no, we can't do this because we hate poor people so much that we would rather waste money than alleviate any suffering.
Reposted by Hoot Owl
its always 'get people working'. it's never
- make childcare affordable
- run better transport so people can get to jobs
- raise attainment for people of all backgrounds
- improve healthcare for long term sick
- make workplaces accessible
- champion flexible working
So it never works.
- make childcare affordable
- run better transport so people can get to jobs
- raise attainment for people of all backgrounds
- improve healthcare for long term sick
- make workplaces accessible
- champion flexible working
So it never works.
November 26, 2024 at 9:45 AM
its always 'get people working'. it's never
- make childcare affordable
- run better transport so people can get to jobs
- raise attainment for people of all backgrounds
- improve healthcare for long term sick
- make workplaces accessible
- champion flexible working
So it never works.
- make childcare affordable
- run better transport so people can get to jobs
- raise attainment for people of all backgrounds
- improve healthcare for long term sick
- make workplaces accessible
- champion flexible working
So it never works.
Reposted by Hoot Owl
The assumption that most animals — particularly “lower” animals — don’t feel pain has always been a pretty self-serving one, based on looking for ways to classify other beings as fundamentally different than we are. It is, unfortunately, a load-bearing pillar of ideology
Crabs might feel pain - new research shows their bodies react to harmful sensations, much like ours. 🦀
If crabs can suffer, should we rethink how we treat them and other animals in farming, research, and beyond?
#OpenAccess study: doi.org/10.3390/biol...
#Science🧪 #EduSky #AcademicSky
Putative Nociceptive Responses in a Decapod Crustacean: The Shore Crab (Carcinus maenas)
Nociceptors are receptors that detect injurious stimuli and are necessary to convey such information from the periphery to the central nervous system. While nociception has been extensively studied in...
doi.org
November 26, 2024 at 11:34 AM
The assumption that most animals — particularly “lower” animals — don’t feel pain has always been a pretty self-serving one, based on looking for ways to classify other beings as fundamentally different than we are. It is, unfortunately, a load-bearing pillar of ideology
Wrote a letter to my senator today expressing my disappointment that she didn’t vote for the Sanders bill. I encourage everyone to do something similar
Just found out about the Madison-Rafah Sister City Project. They’re promoting this global week of action. I plan to participate however I can. madisonrafah.org/nov-20-29-20...
Nov 20-29, 2024: Never Again Is Now: Sanction Israel’s Genocidal and Apartheid Regime – MadisonRafah.org
madisonrafah.org
November 24, 2024 at 4:32 AM
Wrote a letter to my senator today expressing my disappointment that she didn’t vote for the Sanders bill. I encourage everyone to do something similar
Before I went vegan, I thought being vegan was this huge burden.
I've been vegan since January. I ran the Chicago Marathon last month. I feel great. My family has adapted. Sometimes they cook for me, sometimes I just grab whatever from the fridge. There's almost always *something* in restaurants.
I've been vegan since January. I ran the Chicago Marathon last month. I feel great. My family has adapted. Sometimes they cook for me, sometimes I just grab whatever from the fridge. There's almost always *something* in restaurants.
November 24, 2024 at 12:04 AM
Before I went vegan, I thought being vegan was this huge burden.
I've been vegan since January. I ran the Chicago Marathon last month. I feel great. My family has adapted. Sometimes they cook for me, sometimes I just grab whatever from the fridge. There's almost always *something* in restaurants.
I've been vegan since January. I ran the Chicago Marathon last month. I feel great. My family has adapted. Sometimes they cook for me, sometimes I just grab whatever from the fridge. There's almost always *something* in restaurants.
Reposted by Hoot Owl
if you, like me, are not ready to go The Full Vegan, and have the means to buy and cook them, I heartily recommend meal kits
no joke, they have saved me from running a crisper drawer vegetable hospice
I waste SO much less food now and it’s not like I wasn’t trying before, ADHD is a beast
no joke, they have saved me from running a crisper drawer vegetable hospice
I waste SO much less food now and it’s not like I wasn’t trying before, ADHD is a beast
Unless and until credible product carbon labeling becomes a thing, if you are in the Americas or Europe, your best-bet ways to reduce the GHG impacts of your food and beverage purchases are 1) minimize the food you waste and 2) eat more plants and fewer animal proteins (especially beef and lamb).
Two Rules of Thumb to Slash the Environmental Impact of Your Diet
In a world that expects to welcome another 3 billion people to the middle class in the new few decades, eating more sustainably will be key. Two simple rules of thumb: eat fewer animal-based foods and...
www.wri.org
November 23, 2024 at 11:47 PM
if you, like me, are not ready to go The Full Vegan, and have the means to buy and cook them, I heartily recommend meal kits
no joke, they have saved me from running a crisper drawer vegetable hospice
I waste SO much less food now and it’s not like I wasn’t trying before, ADHD is a beast
no joke, they have saved me from running a crisper drawer vegetable hospice
I waste SO much less food now and it’s not like I wasn’t trying before, ADHD is a beast
Reposted by Hoot Owl
Israel is intensifying its attacks. They believe they have full impunity. Let's not prove them right.
Take 2 minutes today:
1) email your representatives to voice the need for a ceasefire
2) donate $10 to someone, anyone, in Gaza. @mommunism.bsky.social has a whole feed of people who need help.
Take 2 minutes today:
1) email your representatives to voice the need for a ceasefire
2) donate $10 to someone, anyone, in Gaza. @mommunism.bsky.social has a whole feed of people who need help.
BREAKING: Israeli attacks on Gaza over the past 48 hours have killed 120 Palestinians and wounded 205, according to the enclave's Health Ministry.
🔴 LIVE updates ⤵️ aje.io/6yjo63
🔴 LIVE updates ⤵️ aje.io/6yjo63
Israel pounds Beirut, kills 120 Palestinians in Gaza in 48 hours
Lebanon confirms 11 deaths in Beirut’s Basta area as a series of Israeli strikes also hit its Choueifat, Hadath areas.
aje.io
November 23, 2024 at 2:57 PM
Israel is intensifying its attacks. They believe they have full impunity. Let's not prove them right.
Take 2 minutes today:
1) email your representatives to voice the need for a ceasefire
2) donate $10 to someone, anyone, in Gaza. @mommunism.bsky.social has a whole feed of people who need help.
Take 2 minutes today:
1) email your representatives to voice the need for a ceasefire
2) donate $10 to someone, anyone, in Gaza. @mommunism.bsky.social has a whole feed of people who need help.
Reposted by Hoot Owl
Just one strange cognitive bias?!?
It's called: disinformation.
It's called: disinformation.
“In 2022, YouGov asked “What percentage of Americans do you think are ___?”
The results were hilarious.
Trans: 21%
Muslim: 27%
Jewish: 30%
Black: 41%
Live in NYC: 30%
Gay or lesbian: 30%
The errors are off by orders of magnitude. The trans estimation by 2,000%.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/americans-...
The results were hilarious.
Trans: 21%
Muslim: 27%
Jewish: 30%
Black: 41%
Live in NYC: 30%
Gay or lesbian: 30%
The errors are off by orders of magnitude. The trans estimation by 2,000%.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/americans-...
Americans Have One Very Strange Cognitive Bias
Or: How I learned to stop worrying and love The People.
www.thebulwark.com
November 23, 2024 at 1:58 PM
Just one strange cognitive bias?!?
It's called: disinformation.
It's called: disinformation.
Reposted by Hoot Owl
It's not fashionable to talk about consuming less as a climate solution because our economy is based on selling us crap that no one needs. Still, I challenge you not to buy anything even if there's some crazy Black Friday sale.
It's not Black Friday yet but Amazon has already launched a bunch of sales, with price drops on everything from air purifiers to electronics and kitchen gear. We're scanning all the newly live discounts to find you only the best deals: nyti.ms/49api6U
November 22, 2024 at 7:07 PM
It's not fashionable to talk about consuming less as a climate solution because our economy is based on selling us crap that no one needs. Still, I challenge you not to buy anything even if there's some crazy Black Friday sale.